How we're making training safe for you and your delegates
Our aim is to support the healthcare of the nation, so the safety and wellbeing of everyone is our paramount concern. We constantly monitor government advice and have listed our safety measures and information about our risk assessments below.
Please note the following Tiers and how we deliver the training within them.
Tier 1 – We shall deliver training as normal following the safety measures listed below.
Tier 2 - We shall deliver training as normal following the safety measures listed below. Candidates shall not practice CPR on manikins. All candidates to be given a practical demonstration and must pass the theory test on the practical day.
Tier 3 – We shall only deliver training to high priority organisations.
Training is permitted during lockdown, provided it is run in a COVID secure manner, class sizes are not affected by the rule of six. We have conducted a risk assessment of each venue to determine the maximum safe capacity to be able to adhere to 2-metre-plus social distancing, to determine the number of places available on each of our courses.
Although First Aid training is classed as essential training it is only classed as essential if the candidates on the course are in need of attending such training.
Please note that you / your organisation is / are responsible for conducting a risk assessment on your own candidates, your own venue or the venue you have taken on to deliver the training. A representative from Emagination training shall agree with you on the day if the venue is suitable for the training and suitable for the number of delegates.
Our latest safety measures:
First aid in non-healthcare settings
This guidance will help employers ensure first aiders are confident that they can help someone injured or ill at work during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Employers and their first aiders should take account of the specific guidance on giving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from the Resuscitation Council UK.
Emergency service professionals, such as NHS ambulance workers, will receive specific advice from their employer.
HSE has guidance on first aid cover and qualifications
Check your first aid needs assessment
As an employer, when reviewing your risk assessment to include working during the outbreak, consider refreshing your first aid at work first aids needs assessment.
Ask your first aiders if there are any factors that should be taken into account as part of your risk assessment, for example vulnerable workers with first aid responsibilities.
You should discuss the risk assessment with your first aiders so they are confident about providing the right assistance. This includes knowing what equipment they can use to minimise risk of infection transmission, as explained below.
Guidance for first aiders
Try to assist at a safe distance from the casualty as much as you can and minimise the time you share a breathing zone.
If they are capable, tell them to do things for you, but treating the casualty properly should be your first concern. Remember the 3P model – preserve life, prevent worsening, promote recovery.
Preserve life: CPR
Prevent worsening, promote recovery: all other injuries or illnesses
After delivering any first aid
First aid cover and qualifications during the outbreak
If first aid cover for your business is reduced because of coronavirus or you can’t get the first aid training you need, there are some things you can do so that you still comply with the law.
You should review your first aid needs assessment and decide if you can still provide the cover needed for the workers that are present and the activities that they are doing.
Keep enough first aid cover
If fewer people are coming into your workplace it may still be safe to operate with reduced first aid cover. You could also stop higher-risk activities.
Share first aid cover with another business
You could share the first aiders of another business, but be sure that they have the knowledge, experience and availability to cover the first aid needs of your business.
Shared first aiders must:
Whoever provides the temporary cover must make sure they do not adversely affect their own first aid cover.
First aid certificate extensions
If you hold a first aid certificate that expires on or after 16 March 2020 and cannot access requalification training because of coronavirus, you may qualify for an extension. This applies to:
How you qualify for the extension
To qualify for the extension, you must be able to:
Requalification training in England
The first aid training industry in England is confident that enough courses will now be available for all required requalification training to take place. HSE has therefore agreed a final deadline for requalification for these qualifications of 30 September 2020.
Requalification training in Scotland and Wales
It is accepted that training capacity in Scotland and Wales, and for some parts of the emergency services across Great Britain, might take longer to build.
The deadline for completing requalification training in Scotland and Wales (and in relevant GB emergency services), will therefore be reviewed by HSE over the coming months. Employers or certificate holders should still try to arrange requalification training at the earliest opportunity.
Annual refresher training
If first aiders are unable to access annual refresher training face to face during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, HSE supports the use of online refresher training to keep their skills up to date.
HSE still strongly recommends that the practical elements of actual FAW, EFAW and requalification courses are delivered face to face, so that competency of the student can be properly assessed.
Interrupted first aid training
If because of coronavirus you cannot complete training for your first aid qualification within the usual timeframe, training can restart at a later date as long as: